Detachable clamp for sponge brushes and the like



l SPt3 1940- M. l.. GOLDBERG l 2,213,732

DETACHABLE CLAMP FOR SPONGE BRUSHES AND THE LIKE Filed April- 225 1939vwv//vv 5 A AAA/\ANNAV/Zb vv yv m l 1N ENTOR.,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, 1940 DETACHABLE CLAMP SPNGE BRUSH-EES AND THE LLE '7Claims.-

This invention relates to clamping devices, particularly of the type forholding sponge brushes, cloths and other pliable cleaning or rubbingelements.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed including jaws movable toward each other for clamping actionand improved means for mounting and actu ating the jaws.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thenature set forth having a plurality of spaced clamps and improved meansfor mounting and actuating the same, with the actuating means beingpreferably operated by a single element. l

Another object of the invention is to construct a device of the typealluded to having a plurality of spaced clamps and an intermediateclamp, for simultaneously grasping different parts of an article, withthe spaced clamps moving toward each other into clamping position as theintermediate clamp moves to clamping position.

Another object is to so construct the device that a single meansactuates all the clamps, with the latter mounted for operation-as aunit.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that theclosing of the spaced clamps causes them to move toward each other tocause closing movement of the intermediate 30 clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide the device with a handleso resiliently coordinated with a clamp as to tend to open the same.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a device as set forth,with means adapted to maintain a spraying element within a clamp.

Other objects of the invention and advantages thereof will becomeapparent as the specication proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing: p

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention, saiddevice being shown in the closed clamping position, with parts removedand parts in section.

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the right end of Fig. l, with a fragment ofa cleaning pad secured therein.

(Cl. 15J/31M) Fig. 3 is a similar view with the device in open position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line i--t of Fig. 2, but with thecleaning pad omitted.

Fig. 5 is a plan view with. parts in section of the spraying device.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in several difierentconstructions. `The accompanying drawing, theresi ci as showing the pre-:erred exenip icaticn of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l@ denotes a device embodying theinvention. The same may include a frame li comprising a pair of memberslf2, l5 which may be in the form oi box sections, each having an uprightside wall, and the respective sections having top Walls Wa, i3d, andopposite end Walls lib, ith. These sections may be movably, prefer bly,swingably related to each other, as by pivotally interconnecting the endWalls lb, for instance, by rivets il. At the lower edges of the membersi2, it each may have like confronting jaw portions, which may consist ofa series of teeth l5 cifset relatively to each other as shown. Similarlyformed on the members i2, 3 are the outer jaw elements, each desirablycomprising a series of teeth iii for a purpose hereinafter described.Preferably the teeth iii are in alternate arrangement to the adjacentteeth the latter being bent inward and the intermediate teeth being bentoutward.

Co-operating with the outer jaw elements it are the individual jawmembers il, i8 of any suitable character, and being preferably straightand uniform to afford a smooth finish to the device lil. Each of thesejaw members may be of angle shape to provide a part lying laterallybeyond the points of the teeth l5, and a part overlying said teeth toform a stop for limiting the insertion of an article is to be clamped.EX- tending upward trom the jaw members il, i3 are their respectivewalls lla, its which lie along and outside of the sections l2, diMoveably,

sul.

preferably swingably mounting the jaw members sey members moves intoclamping relation with its corresponding jaw element I6, and by exertingpressure on the latter, causes the sections I2, I3 to swing so that theinner jaw portions I5 move into clamping relation with each other. Thisaction is facilitated by the provision of a common mounting or commonpivotal axis at I4.

Preferably a common means is provided for causing the above describedoperation. For instance, each member IIa, Ia may partially marginallyextend over its adjacent section I2 or I3 as the case inay be, and themembers IIa, I8a may have projections or extensions IId, I8drespectively. `On the extension I'Id may be mounted a cam I9 rotatablyconnected thereto as at 20, and actuable by a knob or linger piece 2l.The extension Id may havean upright lip or follower 22 for said cam, thearrangement being that when the cam is turned to the position shown inFig. 1, it abuts the lip 22 to force the extensions I ld, I Bd aaprt,and hence to cause swinging movement of the jaw membersl toward eachother, to close the device IIB, as above described. When the cam I9 isgiven a quarter turn, the lip 22 is released, and the device IQ may beopened as shown in Fig. 3.

Desirably a handle is provided for the convenient manipulation of thedevice I0. Such a handle may be adapted for spring action, as by theprovision of a U-shaped handle 23 having arms 24 terminating in outwardprojections 25 adapted to removably spring into suitable holes orrecesses the cam i9 is moved to releasing position. For

this purpose, the wall I'Ia may have an offset open ended box-likeelement 26 having a flange 2l provided with a hole to receive one of thelugs 25. The other wall ma may have an upstanding ilange 28 protectivelyconcealed in the element 26 and movable therein, said flange having ahole to receive the other lug 25. Accordingly the handle 23 is thusremovably connected to the device I0 for manipulating the same, and theexpansive action of this handle tends to resiliently move aparttheflanges 27, 28 to thus move the walls Ila, I8a, to cause the jaw membersI'I, I8 to move apart to open position. It will be noted that the handle23 may remain operatively connected to' thedevice IES regardless whetherthe same be in open or closed position.

If desired, a liquid supply or spraying device 29 may be utilized withinthe frame II. For example, the device 29 may consist of a tubelongitudinally perforated at 3S, and suitably connected to a hose 3|.This device may be inserted into the space between the casing sectionsI2, I3 and may be resiliently engaged by U-shaped spring clamps 32aiiixed to the case section I2 as at 33. By directing the perforationsdownward, a liquid may be uniformly imparted to an article held by thedevice I9, the sections I2 and E3 serving toretain any spray which mayotherwise tend to flow in an undesired direction.

The manner of using the device II) will now be briey described. With thecam I9 turned at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 1, thespring handle 23 causes the jaws I'I and I8 to move apart and thuspermits the case sections I2 and I3 to move so as to permit the innerjaw portions to move away from each other to open position. With thedevice I0 thus fully opened, this device is placed, for example, upon asponge rubber" pad 34 or the like and is pressed downward upon thelatter. Due to the softness and pliability of the pad 34, portions 34athereof are squeezed into the space between the outer jaw elements I6and their respective jaw members I'I and I8, with the top anges of theangular jaw members I'I and I8 limiting the upward movement of theportions 34a. Likewise a central pormove toward each other and hencetoward their v corresponding jaw members I6. The portions 34a of the padnow become tightly squeezed with the teeth IE biting thereinto. Thepressure exerted' on these portions 34a is thus naturally imparted bythe teeth I6 to the case sections I2, I3 causing swinging motion of thelatter with the jaw portions I5 moving toward each other so that theteeth I5 bite into the central upward bulging portion 34h of the pad.Hence the p-ad 34 is secured along three different lines, namely, alongits opposite marginal portions and also along its central region. If thepad is to be removed, it is merely necessary to turn the cam VI9 to openposition, whereupon the spring handle 23 causes the jaw members I'I andI8 to move apart so that the pad can readily be pulled out from betweenthe various clamping jaws. It will be appreciated that ifA desired, thecase members I2 and I3 may be held in iixed relation to each other,'anda desirable operation nevertheless obtained. It will also be perceivedthat for certain purposes the outer jaw members I'I and I8 may beomitted and the cam I9 utilized for direct actuation of the case membersI2 and I3.

It will now be seen that I have provided a device which fullls theobjects of the invention and is well adapted for practical use.

I claim: y

1. A device including a pair of frame members having jaw portionsconfronting each other and having jaw elements facing in oppositedirections,

jaw members for the individual jaw elements, means for causing the jawmembers to move toward the jaw elements into operative relationtherewith and thus to cause corresponding movement of the frame memberswith the jaw portions moving toward each other, and an` expandibleU-shaped spring handle for the device so engaged with the jaw members asto cause them to move away from the jaw elements.

2. A device including a pair of main jaws mounted for swinging movementtoward and away from each other, said main jaws having inner clampingportions confronting each other and adapted to clamp an articletherebetween, said main jaws having outer jaw portions, companion jawmembers for the individual outer jaw portions, the companion jaw membersbeing mounted for swinging movement toward and away from each other,said companion jaw members cooperating with the main jaws so as to beadapted to cause movement of the latter toward each other for clampingaction of the inner jaw portions, and means for actuating said companionjaw members, said inner clamping porl lil inner clamping portion andintermediate teeth form an outer jaw portion.

3. A device including a plurality of members having intermediate pivotalmeans interconnecting said members, each member having a jaw and an arm,a cam mounted on one arm and cooperating with the other arm so as to beadapted to move the arms apart and thus to move the jaws toward eachother, said arms having portions extending in opposed directions pasteach other, and a handle comprising an expansible elongated U-shapedspring element engaged between said portions and tending to move saidportions in the respective directions in which they extend and thus tocause movement of the arms toward each other for moving the jaws apart.

4. A device for clamping a fiat soft article along opposite edgeportions and along an intermediate portion at the top surface thereof,including a plurality of spaced downward extending outer jaws, aplurality of inner jaws intermediate of the outer jaws, each inner jawhaving a pair of oppositely extending generally horizontal jaw portions,so as to provide inner jaw portions cooperative with each other to gripsaid intermediate portion of the article and outer jaw portionscooperative with the respective adjacent outer jaws to grip said edgeportions of the articles, means mounting the different jaws for relativemovement between the inner jaws and for relative movement between theouter jaws, and means to cause movement of the outer jaws toward eachother to compress the article against the outer portions of the innerjaws and thus to cause the inner jaws to move toward each other so thatthe inner portions thereof grip said intermediate part of the article,said horizontal jaw portions of the inner jaws being adapted to beardown flatwise on the article to squeeze edge and intermediate portionsthereof into the aforesaid clamping relation to the different jaws.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said means for mounting thedifferent jaws is arranged to provide a common pivotal axis therefor.

6. A device including a plurality of spaced jaw members, a bodybetweenthe jaw members, said body having oppositely directed jawportions at opposite edges thereof, the jaw members having cooperativeclamping relation with the respective adjacent jaw portions, said jawportions lying in a generally common horizontal plane, said jaw membersextending downward and lying in planes at approximately right angles tothe jaw portions and projecting below the latter, each of said jawmembers having an arm iixedly connected thereto, said arms extendingtoward each other and having a pin directly pivotally interconnectingthe same for movement of the jaw members toward and away from the jawportions, means for controlling said movement mounted on said jawmembers, and means for mounting said body on said pin.

7. A device including a plurality of spaced jaw members, a body elementbetween the jaw members, said body element having opposite portion:forming jaw portions cooperative with the respective adjacent jawmembers to afford clamping sections for clamping an article at twopoints, said body element serving to press down on an article to squeezeportions thereof into the clamping sections, and means for controllingthe jaw members including arms rigidly connected to the y jaw membersand interconnecting the same for movement toward and away from said jawportions, including a pivot member having a single.

pivotal axis, and means for directly mounting said body element on thepivot member.

MORRIS L. GOLDBERG.

